Teddy Roosevelt Terrier

The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is a lively, friendly, affectionate dog with his family but can be somewhat of a one-person dog.

Daily Care

Grooming Tips

The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is very low maintenance and easy to groom. A seasonal shedder, he only requires weekly brushing with a soft brush or rubber curry mitt.The occasional bath will keep him clean and looking his best.
Nails should be trimmed as needed with a nail clipper or grinder to avoid overgrowth, splitting, and cracking. Ears should be checked regularly to avoid a buildup of wax and debris, which can result in infection. Teeth should be brushed as needed.

Exercise Tips

The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is an energetic breed with seemingly boundless energy. Options for exercise could include playtime in the backyard, preferably fenced, or being taken for walks several times a day. Exercise can also come in the form of indoor activities, like hide-and-seek, chasing a ball rolled along the floor, or learning new tricks.
Certain outdoor activities like swimming, hiking, and retrieving balls or flying discs can provide a good outlet for expending energy. If you live in an apartment, even short walks in the hallways can give your dog some exercise, especially during inclement weather. Training for dog sports like agility, obedience, and rally can also be a great way to give your dog exercise.

Feeding Tips

The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier should do well on high-quality dog food, whether commercially manufactured or home-prepared with your veterinarian’s supervision and approval. Any diet should be appropriate to the dog’s age (puppy, adult, or senior). Some dogs are prone to gettingoverweight, so watch your dog’s calorie consumption and weight level.
Treatscan be an important aid in training, but giving too many can cause obesity. Learn about whichhuman foodsare safe for dogs, and which are not. Check with your vet if you have any concerns about your dog’s weight or diet.Clean, fresh water should be available at all times.

Health Tips

Although the Bench-legged Feist has been around for about 150 years (under different names and constantly changing), there has apparently been no health study that is available for these dogs. Still, there are reports that these Feists are basically healthy but do have a few heritable illnesses as well as are prone to certain injuries. There is also the fact that these dogs are Terriers and are known to occasionally develop certain issues.

Trainability

The sturdy Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is a fearless hunter, yet fun-loving, friendly, and a sensible companion. Generally good with other animals and children, this terrier’s intelligence, intuitiveness, and “eager to please” mentality make them easy to train.
Teddy Roosevelt Terriers excel in many events, including agility and obedience. These events serve as excellent exercise outlets and bonding opportunities between dog and handler. Teddies thrive on praise, make excellent house dogs, and can be crate trained, but they do not do well in kennels, consistently tied up, or as outside-only dogs where they are isolated from people. Beyond their intelligence, they are unusually intuitive, anxious to please, and determined.

History

The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier was developed in the United States from the various small and medium breed dogs that accompanied early American immigrants. Most were small hunting and terrier types whose job it was to clear the home and farmsteads of vermin.
These versatile terriers probably included crosses between theSmooth Fox Terrier, theManchester Terrier, theBeagle, theWhippet, theItalian Greyhound, and the now extinct White English Terrier. Over time, the dogs were selected for their hunting ability and harmonious nature in the home.
The Teddy Roosevelt was originally a variety of theRat Terrier, with the short-legged being known as Type B and the long-legged as Type A. During the 1990s, breeders worked to divide them into two breeds.The short-legged Rat Terriers developed a devoted following and were named in honorof President Teddy Roosevelt, who was thought to have owned these ratters.